"The police very quickly were able to take residents to a community centre on Dee Street, the whole place was evacuated, around 19 flats.

"It was one of the top floor flats and it was completely destroyed and gutted in the fire. It was a very intense fire and we had a battle to extinguish it. The rood burnt through.

"There were a couple of people treated on the scene for the possible effects of smoke inhalation.

"We do not know the cause yet and are making enquiries with the PSNI this morning.

"There did seem to be a fire alarm as residents had evacuated when we arrived but this is the start of our fire safety week coming on Monday so it is certainly advisable people check their smoke alarms are working."

The Woodstock Link was also closed to traffic for a time while the fire was brought under control.

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson praised the response by statutory agencies and said the attack was "reckless" and could have resulted in a "real risk to life".

"I want to pass on huge thanks to the PSNI, Fire Service, Housing Executive, Belfast City Council and Belfast Trust who all responded to this emergency," he said.

"This was a reckless attack resulting in a real risk to life but thankfully there were no injuries. All the residents have either been accommodated with family and friends or by NIHE and the Trust.

"An arrest has been made but the coordinated action of so many agencies helped ensure the outcome was not much worse."